a cat in wildkat lol

[byjove]

[Hermann is maybe moping??? He's set up shop in Wildkat after the trial, just sitting at a table by himself. He's not even eating or anything, though he is sort of idly flipping through his rulebook from time to time.

He doesn't look particularly busy, so now's as good a time as any to approach.]

Comments

[soylentprotag]

[Oh, Lenka is definitely moping, and considering his size it's ridiculously noticeable -- especially when he's in enclosed spaces like this, and especially when he's being melodramatic, since he just squeezed himself through the door and FLOMPed down in the corner with enough force to rattle the tables and all the coffee pots.

There's a vague thought that he should be more careful, but he's also too tired to give it the consideration it deserves. After a moment, movement catches the corner of his eye and of course then he spots Hermann nearby.

He doesn't move, though, just huffs quietly to himself and lets the silence stretch a few moments longer. The smell of coffee and baked goods is way too strong, but still comforting somehow.]

... I'm sorry for accusing you, before. I didn't vote for you.

[It's kind of obvious, actually, given Hermann didn't have any votes. But he felt like he should reiterate it anyway.]

[byjove]

[Hermann looks up when the loud thud shakes his table. But then he goes back to... whatever it is he's doing until spoken to.]

I'm not offended. [He scoffs.] You weren't wrong. The evidence against me was just as strong as the evidence against the two we accused as a group.

[Seems he's pretty sour about that.]

[soylentprotag]

[Why does he seem more sour about the evidence than about how it was used against him. Hmm.

Lenka's on a quest, though. Mostly a quest to dissect the last trial until the uncertainty of the vote stops giving him goosebumps, or until he's too tired to think it through anymore. It's going to be a long weekend at this rate.]

There were other reasons to suspect Noctis and Terra. I just... none of the evidence was strong enough.

[It's going to keep bothering him.]

It wasn't like last week. Last week felt easier.

[They had better ideas. A more complete picture. More people involved in the crime.

This week might have been a reality check, in that regard.]

[byjove]

It certainly wouldn't have garnered a conviction in a real courtroom. At least not where I'm from.

[He sighs.]

And most of it came from Monika's hint.

[They'd considered the changed clothing before, but having it handed to them as relevant steered the rest of the trial's direction.]

We need to get better at this.

[soylentprotag]

It... probably wouldn't have where I come from either.

[There's a huge probably, in that he's never stepped foot in a courtroom, and likely not seen much in the way of procedural dramas either. Only common sense tells him that usually, trials are not 40-plus people arguing, skateboarding and slinging McDonald's and redheads across the room.

... Anyway.]

I think we have enough money for hints between us, if we need them.

[So at least there's that insurance, for the near future. But even so...]

But yes, we need to do better. It feels like we were just barely lucky -- even with the hint.

[byjove]

We won't have as much with Lion dead. We can't rely on purchasing hints, especially if they're just as vague as the one we were given.

[He's never been in criminal court either, but you're right, Lenka, that's... that's nothing like court. Unless maybe you're from Maya's world. RIP.]

We need to be more thorough in our investigations. I believe that's where the problem lies.

[soylentprotag]

We can't rely on it, but we might have to at some points.

[But Hermann is right in bringing up their dwindling amount of people vs. dwindling wealth. It's a familiar squeeze of fear on his heart, the thought that they might run out -- of hints, of save pins, but especially of people. It's... a little irrational in its intensity, but he clamps it down.]

But it does seem like we're missing evidence, or technique. Or... both?

[He's really not that great at this sort of thing, not by trade. Trying for effort it is.]